5 Things to Know About the White Sox Organ Before It's Sold

For fans of the Chicago White Sox, most years go by without flair. But some are special. It’s all smiles for die hard Pale Hose enthusiasts when they hear about 1959, 1977, 1983, 1993 and 2005.

Not the owner. Jerry Reinsdorf hadn’t bought the franchise until 1981.

Not the stadium. What’s currently known as U.S. Cellular Field didn’t open as the New Comiskey Park until 1991.

And not any of the players, of course. Although Harold Baines could have come close had he stayed on the south side his entire career.

It was Nancy Faust, the team’s legendary organist from 1970-2010. Her famous organ, which should be in the Hall of Fame alongside a number of White Sox players who have been snubbed of the honor, is now for sale by the team.

The team announced via Twitter last week it will be one of the items for sale as part of their Dec. 5 holiday sale, one of three garage sales the team holds yearly for charity.

Our holiday sale is coming up (12/5) and one of the items is Nancy Faust’s organ: https://t.co/qf9GD1MmCI pic.twitter.com/DgGRUzKM5m

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) November 24, 2015

The team hasn’t listed a price, but it could fetch a significant number. Here are five reasons why:

1. It was Faust who first inspired Harry Caray’s “Take me out to the Ballgame.” The tradition that become popular worldwide at Chicago’s north side ballpark actually started on the south side. Caray was secretly filmed singing it to Faust’s music during the 7th inning stretch of a 1977 game. The tradition began soon after at Old Comiskey, and continued up north in 1981.
2. Until 2005, Faust had only missed five White Sox home games. All were due to her giving birth to a child.
3. Faust played the organ at more than 3,000 White Sox home games over 41 seasons. She was also the organist for the Chicago Bulls from 1975-1984 and Chicago Blackhawks, from 1984-1989.
4. The organ’s version on Steam’s “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” has been copied at other ballparks. Beginning in 1977, the song has been played at Comiskey when the opposing team is forced to take out their starting pitcher. But it just doesn’t feel the same nowadays.
5. Even in retirement, Faust is still organing it up at baseball games. Since 2012, she has been the Sunday organist at Kane County Cougars home games.